Tuesday, April 6, 2010

This photo was found recently in a house on MacDonald Street in Mimico. There was no identifying information on the photo nor a date. The building in the background was the Heather Block on the Lake Shore Road at the foot of Mimico Avenue. It was recently demolished and the land added to the local waterfront park - Amos Waites Park. The sign that can be seen on the building is Heather and Son Plumbing. Wilton Heather was one of the Mimico men who enlisted in the war.

It is not certain when this photo was taken. Was it a group of men who had recently enlisted and were about to leave for France? Or was it a reunion after the war? Also, who are they?

One knowledgeable individual emailed me with the following response:

Almost certain it's a wartime training picture as the men are all in uniform - unlikely in a post war reunion and none of the men are wearing any medals/ribbons. The weather is cold as several men are wearing gloves and there is snow on the ground but no greatcoats are seen ( typical of a parade). The ages of the men tend to be either very young or old, typical of ambulance drivers/medical corps. Only one officer present in the middle with the open collar. I can also see only one corporal and no others with rank insignia. Again more likely in a training camp picture.The picture has been staged in a spot where there are some form of risers where the back row of men are standing higher and the front row are sitting on something. I suspect the men have just been in a parade and are having their pictures taken as a group along with many other regiments/battalions at the same time. A bit too formal for a casual shot taken by a passer-by or someone from Heather's with a friend in the group. Note the wannabee in the back row. One of Heather's employees? - One in every crowd! :-))

Could it have been the 220th Battalion which held a church parade in Mimico in May 1916? Seems unlikely given the weather conditions apparent in the photo. Many Mimico men were members of the 12th Regiment, York Rangers which became part of the 220th Battalion.

If you have any information on the photo or can identify any of the individuals please let me know at mimicohistory at hotmail.com.

During the research for this site I have come across some others linked to Mimico that appear to have been missed from the Honour Roll. These include the following:

Private William George Alexander - 405161

According to his attestation papers dated August 17, 1915 at Toronto, William George Alexander was born on July 2, 1883 in Dunwich, Suffolk, England. He listed his wife Elizabeth Alexander, Port Credit, as his next of kin. He was a labourer and had no previous military experience. He was 32 years and 1 month of age and stood 5 feet 8 inches high. He had brown eyes and hair and a fair complexion. He had a tatoo on is right arm. He was a member of the Church of England. He was a Private in the 18th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) when he was killed on September 15, 1916 in action at the Somme. His remains were never found as he is listed on the Vimy Memorial. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he was the son of William G. Alexander, of Henton, Suffolk, England; husband of Charlotte E. Alexander, of 16 Albert Avenue, Mimico Beach, Ontario.

courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Corporal Cecil Johnston Bovaird - 337957

Cecil Johnston Bovaird - courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

According to his attestation papers dated June 23, 1916 at Toronto, Cecil Johnston Bovaird, 54 Simpson Avenue, Toronto was born on February 9, 1894 in Prescott, Ontario. He listed his mother Laura Elnora Bovaird, 54 Simpson Avenue, as his next of kin. He was a Barrister-at-Law, and had previous military experience of 5 months as a Lieut. in the 109th Regiment. He was 22 years and 4 months of age and stood 5 feet 11 1/2 inches in height. He had grey eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion. He had scars on his neck and left elbow. He also had an appendicitis scar.

He was a Corporal in the 2nd Brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery when he was killed on May 3, 1917. According to the CEF burial register he died of wounds. "This non-commissioned officer was wounded while on duty at a gun position, being hit by a piece of an enemy shell. He was evacuated to No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station, where he succumbed to his wounds". He is buried in the Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension in Pas de Calais, France. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he was the son of William James and Laura Ellnora Bovaird, of Mimico Beach, Ontario. Native of Prescott, Ontario.

Lt. Cecil J. Bovaird. Lieutenant Cecil Johnstone Bovaird. Son of W.J. Bovaird, contractor, of Toronto, Ontario. Graduated from high school in 1910. Admitted as a law student in 1911 at age 16. Called to the bar on 10 February 1916. Bombardier 82nd Howitzer Battery. Killed 14 May 1917 (note that some of the information here is at odds with the official records).

Pte. Harold Stewart Bovaird - 862020

According to his attestation papers dated January 25, 1916 at Toronto, Harold Stewart Bovaird of 54 Simpson Avenue, Toronto was born on April 1, 1890 at Cardinal, Ontario. He listed his mother Laura Bovaird, 54 Simpson Avenue, Toronto, as his next of kin. He was a transfer agent with the Post Office and had 2 years experience as a Private in the 10th Regiment. He was 25 years and 9 months of age and stood 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall. He had hazel eyes, black hair and a fresh complexion. He was a Presbyterian. His brother Cecil also enlisted. As noted in Cecil's obituary Harold was a member of the Canadian Postal Corps.

His brother Cecil also enlisted but was killed.

According to the 1921 Toronto City directory Harold, clerk, and his mother Laura were living on the south side of the Lake Shore Road, Mimico.

Ross Laurier Gauld

According to his attestation papers dated October 2, 1918 at Toronto Ross Laurier Gauld, Mimico, Ontario was born on October 12, 1900 in Mimico. He listed his mother Janet Gauld, Mimico as his next of kin. He was a clerk and had no previous military experience. He was 17 years and 11 months of age and stood 5 feet 6 1/2 inches tall. He had blue eyes, light brown hair and a fair complexion. He had a scar under his left eye. He was a Presbyterian.

According to the 1921 Toronto City directory he was a clerk living with his father George R. Gauld, Department Superintendant Victoria Industrial School.

Cpl. Alvin Walter Leach - 648517

According to his attestation papers dated February 11, 1916 at North Bay, Ontario, Alvin Walter Leach of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario was born on July 15, 1896 in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. He listed his mother Sarah Jean Leach, Mimico, Ontario as his next of kin. He listed his occupation as clerk and indicated that he was a member of the 97th Regiment. He was 19 years and 4 months of age and stood 5 feet 4 3/4 inches high. He had grey eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion. He was a member of the Church of England.

Pte. Albert Norman Ormsby - 4735 and 491027

According to his first set of attestation papers dated May 3, 1915 at Toronto, Albert Norman Ormsby was born on March 1, 1895 at Toronto. He listed his father Albert Ormsby, Mimico, Ontario as his next of kin. He indicated that he was a draftsman and that he had no previous military experience. He was 20 years and 1 month of age and stood 5 feet 6 1/2 inches tall. He had blue eyes, light brown hair and a fair complexion. He was a "Protestant". According to his second set of attestation papers dated June 5, 1917, he listed his address as Mimico Beach. He listed his mother Sarah Ormsby, Mimico Beach as his next of kin. He indicated that he was born on March 1, 1897 and that he was a designer who has 4 months experience in the 4th O.M.R. - Pte. #4735. At the top of the first page of the papers it says "U of T Training" and "1st Tank Battalion, C.M.G.C. C.E.F." He was 20 years and 2 months of age at 5 feet 7 1/4 inches in height. He had two moles on this left chest, two moles on his stomach, five moles on his right shoulder, a scar on his forehead and a mole on the centre of his back. He was a Presbyterian. According to the 1911 census he was actually born in March 1896 - not 1895 or 1897.

Capt. Ernest James Salter - Royal Flying Corps

According to http://www.theaerodrome.com/Ernest James Salter was the son of Theophilus L. and Mary Helen (Coultis) Salter, Ernest James Salter joined the Royal Flying Corps on 3 June 1917. In the summer of 1918, he was posted to 54 Squadron in France. The highest scoring ace to serve with this squadron, Salter scored nine victories flying the Sopwith Camel before being badly wounded on 2 September 1918.

Notice that he was wounded appeared in the Toronto Star on September 10, 1918.

According to the 1914 Toronto City directory Theodore Salter was the bandmaster at the Victoria Industrial School, living in the same location with his family.

SALTER, Captain Ernest James - Chevalier, Legion of Honour (France) - awarded as per London Gazette dated 30 November 1918. Born in Greenbank, Ontario (near Ottawa) about 1897. Home in Mimico, Ontario; joined RFC in Canada, 3 June 1917; obtained Royal Aero Club Certificate No.7211, 27 August 1917; sailed from Canada, 29 October 1917; graded as Flying Officer, 26 February 1918; Captain, 9 August 1918; to France, 15 March 1918; with No.54 Squadron, 19 March to 12 April 1918 (hospitalized) and again from 19 May to 2 September 1918 (wounded). Invalided to UK, 7 September 1918; at Repatriation Camp, 29 March 1919. Died in Oakville, Ontario, 26 March 1959. Ottawa newsclipping of 28 March 1959 says he returned to Canada in 1919 and was engaged in bush flying for three years; credited with 18 enemy aircraft shot down and was a bombing instructor in Second World War. No citation other than "in recognition of valuable services in connection with the war".

SALTER, Captain Ernest James - Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France) - awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 July 1919. No citation other than "in recognition of valuable services in connection with the war."

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 1/1838/204/208/13 has a letter dated 22 July 1918 from the Officer Commanding, 51st Wing to Headquarters, 9th Brigade, Royal Air Force. It states that he had joined the Royal Air Force [sic] in November 1917 and had been in France since March 1918. With this was a recommendation for an unspecified non-immediate award, sent on the same day (22 July 1918) from the Commanding Officer, No.54 Squadron to the Officer Commanding, No.51 Wing:

For exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty.

On 21 July 1918 he went over to an enemy aerodrome and attacked five two-seater Halberstadter and crashed two near their aerodrome.

On the evening of the same day when on Offensive Patrol his formation was attacked by 35 enemy aeroplanes. After clever manoeuvring he succeeded in bringing down a Fokker biplane in flames.

On 5 July 1918 when with nine other Camels attacked a formation of 30 enemy aeroplanes, bringing down one Albatross.

On 4 July 1918 he attacked four Hannoveraner and brought one down.

On 19 June 1918 he chased a two-seater about seven miles over the lines at low altitude and sent it down out of control.

His example of gallantry of the highest order has been a very great influence in the squadron.

Although no British award was granted, this clearly became the basis for one of his French awards, for another document has the following statement; although in French, the absence of accents indicates it was typed on a British typewriter: